HR contacts you to arrange tuberculosis testing, fingerprinting, and a new employee orientation.

HR clears you to work.

NOTE: You CANNOT begin working prior to HR clearance. Failure to get HR clearance before working will result in your FWS award being revoked.

Finding a Position

Having a FWS award does NOT guarantee you a position. It is your responsibility to find an open FWS position. Your award may be removed or awarded to another student after days of inactivity, so please be proactive!

To search for work study jobs, register for the Cuesta online job database. Once you find an employer that is willing to hire you for a FWS position, make sure that employer submits a completed FWS Personnel Authorization Request to Hire Temporary Employee Form and FWS Work Site Referral Form to the Financial Aid Office.

HR Process

In addition to finding a job, you will need to work with the Cuesta College Human Resources Department to do the following:

Attend mandatory employee orientation;

Pick up Fingerprinting Form, TB Testing Form, and New Employee Paperwork Packet from Human Resources. (Be sure to take your Social Security card and a photo ID!);

Note that fingerprinting results may take up to thirty (30) days to arrive; therefore, plan according as you cannot start working until HR clears you and all of your paperwork.

Upon completion of fingerprinting, TB testing and New Employee Paperwork Packet, submit receipt forms and New Employee Paperwork Packet to Human Resources;

Once Human Resources receives clearance for your fingerprints and TB test, a time card will be sent to the Financial Aid Office indicating that you may begin work.

The Financial Aid Office will provide time cards once your employment papers are completed;

Timecards must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by the due date printed on the FWS time card;

Salary / Hours

If you qualify for FWS aid, your salary may start at the federal minimum wage, but it may be higher, depending on the type of work and required skills. The total award amount depends on the application date, the level of your need, and how much FWS money the school has to award.

Undergraduate students are paid by the hour. Unlike a loan program, money is not paid before you earn it. No FWS student may be paid by commission or fee. Students must be paid by the school directly at least once a month.

The amount you earn cannot exceed your total FWS award. Any overage or overtime must be paid by the employer out of their own funds. When assigning work hours, the employer or financial aid administrator takes your class schedule and academic progress into consideration.

Note: No FWS funds are available in the summer. Students cannot work beyond the last day of classes in the Spring semester.